turdacot and a Friend

One of my assignments for my educational technology endorsement was to help a fellow teacher walk a lesson through the trudacot process.

trudacot is outlined beautifully here by one of it's creators:

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2014/08/toward-better-technology-integration-introducing-trudacot.html

Using the trudacot work sheet I was able to sit down with a second grade teacher in my school to review her introductory lesson on geology.  Why this lesson?  Mainly because it was on her curriculum map for the following week and she would be able to use it right away.

My first thought was, geology should be hands on!  Bring in some rocks, dig in the dirt, play!  But as we reviewed her lesson we were able to find several places where we could integrate technology to improve and expand her lesson.  The trudacot model encourages you to change only a few things at a time.  We chose to focus on collaboration and authenticity/relevancy.

Here is a link to the model:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/147Pqvr32qwnPXUBmUM1r8p10unZ-pID_cgLjkGwwAus/edit

In order to improve in both collaboration and authenticity/relevancy we contacted a friend of mine who is a real live geologist!  He agreed to Skype with her class and show them his current projects and answer questions.  The cooler part?  He's on sabbatical in Russia somewhere.  The kids loved talking with him and asking him questions.  The kids were more fascinated that is was already the next day in Russia.  To culminate their experience we made a video of what we learned and sent it to him.  It was truly learning at it's best.

I love the trudacot model.  I love that the model is very specific in it's questioning and that you are encouraged to only change a few things at a time.  It's very doable process for someone who is just dipping their toes into the sea of technology.

VOTE!

This week I was able to participate in a discussion with Tami Pyfer, Education Advisor to Governor Herbert (Utah).

The discussion with Tami was refreshing!  I was happy to find out there is someone rooting for teachers on the hill. Tami shared many things with us that the Governor's office is working on to help education in the state of Utah.

My biggest take-away from this discussion was that I need to spend more time paying attention to what's happening with education on the hill.  My attitude towards bills, proposals, and politics is often lazy.  I always justify this by saying it won't ever really affect me anyways.  I'm wrong.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  What happens in the senate directly affects what happens in my classroom, especially with regards to funding.

What to do about it?  The first thing is make sure I'm aware of ANY bills or laws that need my vote.  Also, make sure I understand my representatives education platform and agree with it.  I also need to make sure I let my representatives know what I want as a teacher and parent.  Email is easy!  They may even look at it.

One more thing on the to-do list, but an imperative one.

UCET - My First Tech Conference

Whoa!  Have you been to a tech conference?  I was a bit overwhelmed by the information overload until I took the advice of my instructor Pam Turley (@pamTurley55).

She suggested using a "dance card" of sorts.  You get to pick your top three take aways to investigate further after you go home.  As the conference continues, if you find something bigger and better, you have to take one off your list to add it.  You can only have three!

So my top three were these:

flippity.net
songsmith (Get it free as an educator!)
ActivInspire for Promethean boards (Now to get a board!)

I loved the idea of choosing three! I am looking forward to learning all I can about the three I choose and introducing them to my fellow faculty members.

Leading the Digital Revolution

I love sharing.  In fact it's one of the biggest skills we learn in kindergarten:  How to share.  We learn to share our toys, our desk, our supplies, and our knowledge!

As I learn more and more about using technology in education, I want to share!  I am saddened by the waste of learning opportunities when I see black screens in classrooms and the bored faces of students listening to yet another lecture.  How do I change it?  This becomes the challenge of being a leader in the digital era.

So far what I've done is simple...I leave my door open and turn up the volume.  I love when people pop their head in to see what we are doing.  I love it even more when they find me later to get more details.  I've now helped several teachers in my building with various tasks from a simple power point to a more complicated virtual field trip.

So far my favorite visitor this year was my principal and his pal the superintendent.  I had my back to the door as my class and I engaged in a rousing brain break from gonoodle.com.  As we danced and sang I heard a hearty barritone giggle behind me and whipped my head around to see the two gentleman standing just inside my doorway observing our antics.  At that point I was all in and knew their visit would be short so just smiled big and kept on dancing.  They left at some point before we were done and I spent the rest of the day worrying about what my principal would say later.

Later that day I heard the dreaded call on the intercom to come and visit in the office.  I put on my best smile and marched in to my doom.  I was wrong!!  Both my principal and superintendent where all smiles and encouraging of my integration of technology, music, and dance in my class.  In fact they heartily encouraged me to share what I knew.

I learned that day that even if my technology was simple, it was a start.  I am a leader by my example.